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Memphis, TN

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Babalu - East

4.0 (385 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

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BABALU - EAST ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Babalu - East

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Julie G.

Awesome service ... sat at the bar and it was great friendly conversation and service... the food was amazing loved the tacos and the street corn was the way to go ... cold beer and friendly faces and a great atmosphere

Barria Bowl
Shelly F.

Oh Babalu, How I love you! This was our first visit and it did not disappoint! We were greeted at the door and seated quickly. Our server was very attentive and happily offered recommendations. The restaurant is bright and open. The noise level is a little high because of the openness but it didn't affect our experience. The food... the guacamole was good. Very good. I think it would have benefited from a little more lime juice and salt but maybe that's just my personal preference. I did really like the addition of sun dried tomatoes. The house chips were very good. The Birria Bowl was just amazing! It was hearty and flavorful. It was placed beautifully over luscious, creamy grits. I am definitely a grits snob and this was some of the best that I have eaten! I want to return over and over and try everything on the menu.

Tiffany J.

I have gone back several times since my last review and tried several menu items. The salmon and grits are delicious! The salmon is cooked well. It's tender, juicy, and flavorful. It's on a bed of cheese grits that I love as well. It also comes with brussel sprouts. I have also added the quac to a regular item that I order. My colleague convinced me to try it and I have been hooked since. It is made table side and it is made with sundried tomato, red & green onion, kosher salt, cilantro, lime juice served with house chips... oh and if you want to make it even better add bacon or jalapeños! The service is always great and the chill vibes!

Lamb sliders
Monica W.

First time back to Babalu in years and first time at this location. It is very nice and open and service was great. Our server Brittany was wonderful and kept everything moving. We were a large party, 10 plus on a Saturday afternoon, the food arrived fresh and hot. Some dishes lacked direction/flavor like chicken sandwich. I don't understand ingredients and toppings that offer no flavor. The spicy chicken was bland and then cheese, letuce, tomato, pickles and chips and drizzle of hot honey and there was only the taste of warm honey and the warm toasted buttered bun. I had a side of mexican street corn and this dish was luke warm but that's my fault but flavor was good just the corn tastec old, not pop when you bite kernal fresh even when cooked that pop is there. Now the spicy shrimp was hands down worth the trip. They were so good but just a little too breaded. The sauce is immediately poured on and brought out and the heated fresh breaded shrimp was too good and just the right texture to soften the breading. The spiciness is perfect too. The baba-rita is good but the younguns at my table said it was cute however I thought it was quiet tasty. There were other dishes shown as well but I did not taste them all. The steak eggrolls were also good however I was not a fan of the guac as it lacked flavor. Overall there is enough on the menu that I like so J will definitely be back.

Chicken Satay w/an extra side of teriyaki sauce
Alexis B.

Another great visit at babulu. This time just dined at the bar! This short rib grilled cheese was sooooooo good! I'm thinking of it now! The table side guac is always a hit and my husband's plate after finishing the burrito could've been sent back to the like how cleaned he got it! Drinks are always a hit and our bartender was so nice!

Menu
Dianna S.

Went to celebrate a friend's birthday last week. We had a wonderful time chatting and catching up. Service was good. Our server was very busy so she did not check on us as frequently. My two tacos were just the ight amount of food. I was happily full but not stuffed. My friends ordered burgers and the redfish which they enjoyed. We chose this place because the food is consistently delicious and seasoned well. The restaurant was clean and very inviting. There are regular tables and chairs and high top tables and chairs. The restaurant was steady busy with patrons the few hours we were there. I know we will return soon.

Tacos
Catrina T.

Went for a late lunch on Sunday (around 4). We were immediately seated. Our server came over quickly. We ordered a lemon berry sour and a margarita and beef short rib rolls. The short rib rolls were very good. My husband enjoyed his margarita. My lemon berry sour was a bit tart. I asked my server to add a bit of simple syrup or agave. Once added the drink was great. We both ordered tacos (tuna, chicken, grilled shrimp, blackened fish). All 4 had way too much happening with sauce and toppings. They all were falling apart and the shells were flimsy. The taste was ok but eating them was a challenge. The experience was just ok as I would have preferred not to fight with my food.

Crispy Brussel Sprouts  One Veggie Taco  One Chicken Taco
Mollie F.

I love babalus!!! It's a delicious spot no matter what location you choose to pop into. We stopped in on abusy day, but the wait was short and well worth it. We had to get the legendary table-made guacamole and it lived up to the hype. We are it all! For our meals we got a veggie and chicken taco, a black bean burger, and a side of crispy brussel sprouts. The burger was a little dry, but that comes with a homemade black bean patty. The tacos were fantastic! The real star of the show was the crispy brussel sprouts, they were so delicious my mouth is watering as I write this. They have the perfect kick and the flavor is incredible. I will be going back just for those bad boys!

Babarita
Megan H.

Salmon with Brussels. Service was great and a good atmosphere for after work dinner and drinks!

Duck Confetti taco
Christy D.

Hello Sunshine! This was my last meal in Memphis this trip and oh what it was! The restaurant is medium sized. It was a beautiful day to dine outside but this day, the area was closed to the public for an event so we sat near the window. It's light, bright and refreshing! Sunshine was our server and she had a cute disposition. She didn't have any top teeth but smiled a lot, all the same. She was pretty good with anticipating your next move or question but could be misinterpreted. So many interesting menu items, I wished I had more time. I didn't take a picture of the Cucumber spritzer, yes! Icing on the cake. We were all happy. Enjoyed the food to the fullest and we will come again.

Memphis Honey Hot Shrimp
Welexi H.

Babalu never disappoints, they offer brunch on the weekends and an assortment of delicious items during the week. I visited the East Memphis location with their newly renovated patio and sat outside and enjoyed the view. The wait was less than 5 mins and our waitress was happy to serve my friends and I. She was knowledgeable about the menu and answered any questions we had. For appetizers, my friends and I indulged in the Memphis Hot Honey Shrimp with spicy ranch. Those didn't stand a chance, they were gone in less than two minutes. We all ordered different items from the menu, my go-to order was the Short Rib Rolls with Sweet potato fries. Eating ribs inside an egg roll is the only way I want to eat them. Everything was delicious and fresh. The waitress continued to check in on us to make sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. Babalu is kid-friendly, family-friendly, or if want a quick bite to eat on your lunch break. Parking is not a problem, it's very spacious and they also have security driving around the parking lot for safety reasons.

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3 years ago

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9 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Everything we ate was delicious! We ordered the table side quac, chorizo burrito, brussel sprouts and margaritas. It was all excellent.

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3 years ago

Best place for food and love the casual ambiance. This is also a good place for happy hour with friends and coworkers.

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3 years ago

Food and service were great. Server was friendly and knowledgeable. Food was different than most places which made it great.

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Great drinks, food and service! Thebtableside guacamole is fabulous. Short rib eggrolls also great. All the foods tasty.

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4 years ago

Tapas are all good - but the Parmesan Caesar salad with Salmon? Crazy good! Always friendly wait staff - even when packed on the weekends.

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Ask the Community - Babalu - East

Can we make reservations?

Hi, Deb! We don't take reservations, but hope you will still join us.

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Chukis Tacos is a must-stop if you're craving authentic Mexican food. Some menu items lean a bit…read moremore Americanized, but everything is packed with flavor. I still can't stop thinking about the sauce station here. There's a private parking lot shared with the surrounding businesses, and the restaurant has around 15 tables inside. It is a good casual spot if you are looking to dine here. FOOD: This restaurant does not serve complimentary chips and salsa. It is $2.95 an order. 1. Torta Villa Carbon (4/5; marinated grilled chicken topped with grilled onions, grilled pineapple, melted cheese, jalapeños, and avocado): This was huge. I ended up saving half for lunch the next day. The combination of sweet and savory flavors worked really well together. 2. Campechano Burrito (4/5; steak strips and chorizo with rice, beans, lettuce, onion, tomato, and jalapeño): Steak and chorizo are always a winning combination, and this burrito did not disappoint. 3. Chirucas Chimichanga (4/5; two medium chimichangas stuffed with rice, beans, cheese dip, and your choice of meat, served with lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream): I chose the grilled marinated pork (al pastor), which was flavorful and satisfying. The server mentioned that the chicken version is their favorite. The service was decent overall, though it could be slow at times. I noticed a few tables waiting a while before servers came to take orders or refill drinks, and my drink was empty for a bit before getting a refill. Dinner service can get very busy, as every table was once full in one of my visits. Would I come back? Absolutely.

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Babalu - East - tacos - Updated October 2026

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